Welt attaching machines



Nov. 20, 1962 L. c; MILLER 3,064,596

WELT ATTACHING MACHINES Filed June 7, 1661 5 Sheets-Sheet l NOV' 20, 1962 l.. G. MILLER 3,064,596

WELT ATTACHING MACHINES Filed June 7, 1961 5 {Seets-Sheet 2 Fly. 5

NOV- 20, 1962 L. G. MILLER 3,054,596

WELT ATTACHING MACHINES Filed June 7, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 20, 1962 L. G, MILLER 3,064,596

WELT ATTACHING MACHINES Filed June 7, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 20, 1962 l.. G. MILLER 3,064,596

WELT ATTACHING MACHINES Filed June '7. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3,054,596 Patented Nov. 20, 1952 tice 3,664,596 WELT ATTACHENG MACHINES Lloyd G. Miller, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, NJ., a corporation of N ew Jersey Filed June 7, 1961, Ser. No. 115,493 7 Claims. -(Cl. Ilz- 46) This invention relates generally to machines for yattaching Welts to lasted shoe uppers and sole members, and has particular reference to a machine of this type which has novel means for actuating a welt severing knife.

The invention is illustrated herein as Ibeing applied to a Goodyear welt and inseam sewing machine similar to that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. l,- 971,575, granted August 28, 1934 and No. 2,041,945, granted May 26, 1936 upon applications of Alfred R. Morrill, and in certain respects embodies an improvement over the automatic welt severing mechanism disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,900,933, issued August 25, 1959 to l. i). Carter. These patents and Patent No. 1,774,498 issued September 2, 1930 -to Fred Ashworth et al. should be referred to for a description of certain parts of the machine which are associated with the mechanism embodying the invention to be described hereinafter. In the machine of the aboveidentied Carter patent, the welt severing knife is actuated, in the case of a sewed heel seat shoe lby a feeler positioned to engage the leading end of the Welt rst attached to the shoe, as the attaching operations near completion. In the attachment of a welt to a so-called breast-to-breast work, in which the welt is attached to only the forepart of the shoe, terminating on each side at a breast, the heel breast line, there is no welt end in position to actuate the feeler, hence means is provided under the direct control of the operator for actuating the welt severing mechanism.

Because of the accurate timing required in judging when to actuate the Welt cutting mechanism in the breastto-breast type of work, the operator of the machine must have considerable training to become proficient in'its proper operation. An error in judgment will result in va defective shoe in which time consuming and expensive repair work is required.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine of the type described in which means is provided for automatically actuating the welt severing mechanism in the attachment of a welt in breast-to-breast work.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of the type described having -means for applying actuating means -to the appropriate position in the yshoe and means responsive to contact with said actuating means for energizing the welt severing mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for applying a conductive material to a predetermined position on the shoe to co-operate with means positioned for electrical contact with said conductive material -to actuate the welt severing mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from vthe following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof.

In lthe drawings,

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of the operating head of a machine embodying the features of the invention;

FIG. .2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the operating head of the machine illustrating the mechanism for applying conductive material to the shoe;

FIG. 3 is a view of the mechanism of =FIG. 2 as seen from .the right;

yFG. 4 is a view of the mechanism of FIG. 2 seen partially lowered into position to apply the conductive material to the shoe;

FIG. 5 is a view of the mechanism of FIG. 4 seen from the right side;

PEG. 6 is a view of the mechanism of PIG. 4 in the fully lowered position at `the end of the conductive material applying stroke;

iFiG. 7 is a View of the mechanism of FIG. 6 as seen from the right side;

FIG, 8 is a perspective view of the contact mechanism for detecting the conductive material applied to the shoe;

FG. 9 is `an enlarged View partly in section of the dispenser for applying the conductive material;

PEG. 10 is a plan view of a shoe in position for starting the operation of attaching a welt around the fore- -part from the heel breast line after the line of conductive material has been applied with certain portions of the mechanism omitted for clarity;

IFIG. l1 is a view similar to FIG. 10 illustrating the shoe as it approaches the end of the attaching operation, when the contact mechanism has reached the line of conductive material; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the machine controlling mechanism and their associated electrical circuits.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a Welt attaching machine 10 which is adapted to attach a welt 12 to the periphery of a partially fabricated shoe 14.

The machine 1i? comprises an operating head i6 supported on -a pedestal i8 with an operator controlled foot treadle 2i? for actuating the machine starting mechanism to be described hereinafter. The operating head 16 is similar to that described in the above-identified patents and has the usual Welt attaching mechanism comprising ya. stitch forming mechanism 17, welt feeding mechanism 19 and welt guiding devices 2.1, a welt severing knife 22 and a solenoid L1 for actuating the knife, said solenoid being energized in a manner t0 appear hereinafter. As further described in the above-identified patents, the operation of the welt attaching mechanism of the machine is controlled by a lock bolt 24 adapted to move into and out of engagement with an oscillating lever 26 which controls a clutch mechanism (not shown). The foot treadle Ztl actuates the lock bolt 24 through a suitable linkage 28, which includes an operating rod 30, in such a manner that downward motion of the treadle causes upward movement of the operating rod 30, moving the lock bolt 24 out of engagement with the lever 26 to start the operation of `the machine. When the trcadle is released, the resulting downward movement of the operating rod moves the lock bolt back into engagement with the lever 26, stopping the machine.

To provide an auxiliary machine stopping means responsive to the actuation of the Welt cut-off knife, in a manner to appear hereinafter, a toggle 32 is interposed in the mechanical linkage between the treadle 2d and the operating rod 3d. The armature 34 of a machine stop solenoid L-Z is connected to the knee of the toggle 32 through a suitable linkage 36, so that on energization of the solenoid LfZ, the toggle is broken to draw the operating rod 36 downwardly and thereby stop the machine without the necessity of releasing the treadle.

Energization of machine stop solenoid L-Z may conveniently be accomplished by providing a cam 38 on the knife 22 so that on a cutting stroke of the knife, the cam 3S closes momentarily a switch S-1, thereby energizing relay R-l. The energization of relay Rdl closes a first pair of contacts C1 and C2, which complete a holding circuit to relay R-l, and also closes a second pair of contacts C3 and C4, which complete a ciruit to timing relay TR-Z After a predetermined time, the contacts C5 and C6 of timing relay TR-Z close, thereby energizing the machine stopping solenoid L-2.

TheV knife actuating solenoid L-l is energized when switch S-2 is closed by a relay R-3 which is energized by an amplifying control device A-l, such as a thyratron switch, high impedance relay or the like, which is actuated in the following manner.

An actuating circuit from A-1 passes through a control block 40 which comprises a support portion 42 for attachment to the machine frame, an abutment 44 projecting therefrom for bearing against the bottom of the shoe, and a spring arm 46 secured to the support portion 42 and separated therefrom by insulating shims 48. The end of spring arm 46 is provided with a sliding contact 5t) which is normally spaced laterally from and slightly below the abutment 44. During the welt attaching operation, the bottom of the shoe ybears against the abutment 44, and exes the spring arm 46 upwardly, so that as the shoe moves laterally, the abutment 44 and the contact 50 slide around the periphery of the shoe bottom.

IIn the illustratedV embodiment of the invention, the control device A-l is actuated by providing a conductive strip on the shoe bottom in an appropriate position, so that as the abutment 44 and the contact 50 slide across said conductive strip, a circuit is completed through the control block to the control device A-l, thereby energizing rrelay R-3.

One method of providing a suitable conductive strip is illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 7 and 9. A receptacle 52 having a ball-type dispenser 54 at the lower end is mounted on a lever 56 which is hinged at the upper end to an arm 58 extending from an armature 60 of a solenoid L-3. The lever 56 is limited in its -downward movement in relation to the arm 58 by a stop 62 depending from the arm. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, downward movement of the armature 60, in response to energization of solenoid L-S causes the dispenser ball 54 to contact the bottom surface of the shoe at a point spaced inwardly from the periphery, and as further downward movement of the armature causes the lever 56 to swing upwardly in relation to the arm 58 (see FIGS. 6 and 7), so that the ball 54 rolls on the bottom of the shoe toward the outer periphery, leaving a transverse line 64 of conductive material. The solenoid L-3 may conveniently be energized for the required time through a timing relay 'IR-3 Vby a switch S-4 which is closed by the treadle at "the start of an attaching operation.

In the illustrated embodiment, the dispenser is positioned for use in the -manufacture of Goodyear welt shoes, in which the welt is to lbe attached around the forepart only of the shoe, terminating on each side at aboutthe heel breast line. In such an operation, the conductive line may be applied to the shoe bottom at the beginning of the attaching operation on the side opposite the side first presented to the machine (see FIG. 10). The ball 54 mounted to position the line 64 in predetermined relation to the control block and welt cut-off knife so that when the control =block contacts pass over the conductive I line 64 as the attaching operation nears completion, the cut-off knife is actuated to cut the welt at a point in transverse alignment with the previously attached end place of the liquid dispenser. It has also been foundrthat with a control device of sufficient sensitivity, ordinary tap water may be used as the conductive material.

Although the illustrated embodiment of the invention is particularly adapted for use in the attachment of a welt to a Goodyear welt shoe in which the welt is attached about the yforepart forward of the heel breast line, it will be apparent that the principles of the invention may also be adapted for use with so-called sewed seat work, in which the welt is attached about the entire periphery of the shoe.

It is also apparent that the principles of the invention may be adapted for use with other types of shoe-making operations.

Since certain other obvious changes may be made in the device without departing :from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained herein be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A mechanism for performing a predetermined operation on an article comprising means for performing said operation, means for terminating said operation, means for applying a conductive material to a predetermined area of said article, and means responsive to contact with said conductive material lfor terminating said operation.

2. A mechanism for attaching a length of material from a continuous supply to an article, comprisingmeans for attaching said material to the article, means for severing said material at the completion of said attaching operation, means responsive to the actuation of said` severing means for terminating the attaching operation, means for applying a conductive material to the article, and means responsive to contact with said conductive material for actuating said severing means.

3. A mechanism for attaching a welt to the periphery of a partially fabricated shoe, comprising weltV attaching means, primary means for starting and stopping said operation, auxiliary means for stopping said operation, means for applying a conductive material to a predetermined area of said shoe, and means responsive t0 contact with said conductive material for energizing said auxiliary means.

4. A mechanism for attaching a welt to the periphery of a partially fabricated shoe, comprising welt attaching means, operator controlled means for starting and stopping said welt attaching means, auxiliary means for stopping said welt attaching means independentlyV of the operator controlled means, welt cutting means, means responsive to the actuation of said welt cutting means for energizing said auxiliary stopping means, means for applying a conductive material to the shoe, and -means responsive to contact with said conductive mterial for actuating said welt cutting means.

5. A mechanism for attaching a welt to a peripheral portion of a partially fabricated shoe, comprising welt attaching means, means for applying a conductive material to a portion of the shoe bottom generally ahead of and in the path of the attaching operation, and means responsive to contact with said conductive material for terminating said attaching operation.

6. A mechanism for attaching a welt to a peripheral portion of a partially fabricated shoe, comprising'welt attaching means, means for rapplying a conductive material to the shoe generally in the path of the attaching operation, and a pair of contacts disposed ahead of the Welt attaching means, said contacts being positioned to bear against the shoe during at rleast the latter portion of the attaching operation, and ymeans responsive to the completion of an electric circuit between said contact means through said conductive material for stopping said attaching operation.

7. A mechanism for attaching a welt to a partially fabricated shoe about the forepart generally forward of the heel breast line, comprising a welt attaching mechanism, a pair of contacts adjacent thereto positioned to bear against the shoe during the attaching operation, means for applying a conductive stripe to the shoe bottom in the general path of the attachment in the side 6 thereof opposite the side rst presented t0 the attaching mechanism, and means responsive to the completion of an electric circuit between the contacts for stopping the attaching mechanism.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,592,115 Lindgren July 13, 1926 10 2,908,237 Winberg Oct. 13, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,170,842 France Nov. 30, 1959 (1st addition to No. 72,760) 

